Automobile window apparatus



y 7, 1942- D. L. CHANDLER ETAL 2,288,887

AUTOMOBILE WINDOW APPARATUS Original File d June 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet1 ll g M 11 I 26 4&5 J

- I way-a o. L. CHANDLER ETAL 2,288,887

AUTOMOBILE WINDOW APPARATUS Original Filed June 22, 1940 July 7, 1942.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 :695.

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AUTOMOBILE WINDOW APPARATUS Original Filed June 22, 1940 3 Shee'ts-Sheet3 Fig. 9.

7 (fiz rfiey Patented July 7, 1942 2,288,887 I C E AUTOMOBILE WINDOWAPPARATUS Daniel L. Chandler, Salem, George W. Ewing, Peabody, and FrankH. Walker, Salem, Mass., assignors to Aresee Company Inc., Salem, Mass,a corporation of Massachusetts Original application June 22, 1940,Serial No. 341,838. Divided and this application January 2, 1941, SerialNo. 372,934

3 Claims.

Our present invention relates to automobile window-sash raising andlowering mechanism being a division of application Ser. No, 341,838,filed June 22, 1940.

Heretofore, it has been the practice, in automobile door manufacture, toprovide hand-operated mechanical means of a more-or-less automatic typein which the automobile window sash is raised and lowered by means of acrank, lever, or other hand motivated mechanisms. In all such devices,it is necessary for the operator of the window sash to perform acontinuous sustained movement of the hand, arm, and body, in order tocontinue the movement of the window sash in either direction.

In the engineering field it is well known and recognized that more andmore automobile control of the automatic type is fast supersedinghand-operated mechanisms in which the operators hand performs acontinuous sustained movement during the operation of the variousmechanisms.

In the present day manufacture of automobiles, this full-automaticdevelopment of controlling devices is making itself evident in manyimprovements which contribute to the ease and comfort of the operator.

Such automatic development not only contributes to the convenience ofthe operator but at the same time increases the safety factor in theoperation of the vehicle by relieving the operator from many minorphysical duties heretofore necessary and thereby giving him more time todirect his attentions to road hazards which require his full attention.

In our present invention, we have designed and developed a new automaticcontrol mechanism for automobile window sash which is not onlyconvenient to the operator of the vehicle but does not require anycontinuous sustained movement of his hand when it is desired to raise ordrop the window-sash of the automobile.

Our present invention involving automatic control of the window-sashsubstitutes electricity for manual power in the sustained movement ofthe window-sash so that one initial movement of the operators fingersets in motion the movement of the window sash, either up or down, andthe release of pressure exerted by the operator, instantly stops themovement of the window-sash, in either direction, Furthermore, automaticmechanism is provided which makes it impossible for the operator tocontinue the direction of movement of the window-sash in eitherdirection be yond a certain point thereby making it impossible for theoperator to damage the apparatus, at the same time making it unnecessaryfor the operator to keep his eye on the movement of the window-sash whenhis attention may be needed other places. In other words, when thewindowsash reaches its maximum top or bottom movement, as the case maybe, the movement is automatically checked and the operator cannotcontinue such movement further even though his attention may be centeredelsewhere. To reverse the movement of the window-sash, a reversemovement of the operators hand is necessary. This is a very importantfeature in any automatic apparatus of this type because the operatorcannot always be watching the windowsash in its movement while he isdriving in traffic or at other times when his vision may have to bedirected in front of him on the road, intersections, or oncomingvehicles, also it is important that such window movement ceases when thelimit of travel is reached in order to prevent damage to the apparatus.

The principal object of our invention is an improved automobilewindow-sash operating mechanism;

Another object is an improved automatic window-sash operating mechanismautomatically operated by means of electricity;

Still another object is an improved automobile window-sash operatingmechanism which is automatically operated by means of reversablycontrolled electrically driven raising and lowering mechanism;

And still another object is an improved automobile window-sash operatingmechanism which is automatically operated by means of reversablycontrolled and electrically driven raising and lowering mechanism havingautomatic stop devices adapted to limit the movement of the window-sashin either an up or down movement, and

Other objects and novel features comprising the construction andoperating of our improved device will be apparent as the description ofthe same progresses.

In the drawings illustrating our invention:

Fig. 1 is an assembled inside elevation of the window-sash mechanism asmounted on an automobile door, portions of the door having been brokenand other parts removed to better show the arrangement of parts;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section, parts of which are broken away for the sakeof convenience being taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 particularlyshowing the operating lever thrown to the left-hand position shown indotand-dash lines in Fig. 1. The position shown in this figureillustrates the window sash moving upward and just prior to its topmostposition preceding the movement of the operating lever to the rightwhich will open the electrical switch contact on the lower end of theoperating lever; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line4- l of 2; r

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the reversing mechanism indicated in Fig.1, portions of which are broken off for convenience;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. showing asideelevation of the reversing mechanism with the near side plate removed;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 6, the left-hand portionbeing cut off and the spur gear removed to better show one of thereversing members;

Fig. 8 is another side elevation similar to Fig. 7, but showing thereversing member in a different position;

Fig. 9 is another top plan view similar to Fig. 6, the reversing slidehaving been removed;

Fig. 10 is a cross-section taken on the line I0-I0 of Fig. 6, the frontplate shown in Fig. 5 being included; i

Fig. 11 is a cross-section taken on the line II-II of-Fig. 5, and

Fig. 12 is a partial elevation and cross-section of the reversable driveshaft showing the reversing members in place on the shaft portion, asremoved from the rest of the apparatus.

Referring more in detail to the drawings illustrating our invention.Illa indicates the side frames of an automobile door. In conventionalautomobile door design the inside panel IIa is provided upon which thewindow-sash I2a elevating and lowering apparatus is mounted. Thewindow-sash glass I3a is slidably mounted in the door frames Illa sothat the glass l3a and the channel sash member I2a in which the glass ismounted can be moved up or down. v

A split window sill I4a is provided between the slide frames Ina and sopositioned that the *glass I3a can be moved up and down between the sillmembers to any degree of height desired by the operator.

In Fig. 1 it will be noted that we have provided a. frame member I5ahaving bolts I6a, the bolts-being shown in cross-section and normallyadapted to be fastened in the panel Ila which is cut away. Pivoted inthe frame member I5a at Ila and I8a are lever arms I9a and 20a. Thelower ends of the arms I9a and 20a are provided with rollers whichengage in the channel members 2Ia and 22a which are fixed to the bottomface of the glass channel member I2a. On the far side of the framemember I511 and attached to the lever arm I9a is segmental gear member23a. The lever arm 20a is engaged with the lever arm I9a through gears24a and 2511. A counter balance spring 26a is fixed to the pivot IBa andanchored at 21a to any convenient portion of the frame I5a.

Assuming that the frame I5a is stationarily I mounted to the door panelIla and the gear segment 23a is rotated, it will be apparent that thearms I9a and 2011 will swing in opposite directions about the pivots Ilaand I81: and raise or lower the member I2a and attached glass I 3a.

In conventional door design a shaft is journalled in the frame I5a andis further provided, on the far side, as viewed in Fig. l with a pinionwhich engages with the teeth in the segment gear 23a, so that theoperator can operate the window control mechanism from the inside of thevehicle.

In our present invention we have eliminated certain parts above referredto, as follows:

At I25 we have indicated in dot-and-dash lines the rotor of aunidirectional motor which is generally indicated at I26. Attached tothe motor frame is a reversing mechanism I21. The

extension members I28 are provided with bolts I29 which are secured tothe panel Ila. The .rotor I25 of the motor I26 is directly connected tothe shaft I30 which is reversably connected to a shaft I3I to which issolidly attached the pinion 29a which engages with the segment 23a. Thereversing mechanism between the shaft I30 and the pinion 29a will bedescribed in detail further along in the specification.

Connecting with the reversing mechanism I21 is an extension lever I32.The reversing end of the lever I32 is attached to a reversing slide I33,better shown in Fig. 5, the left end being pivoted to the operatinglever 43a. The operating lever 43a is pivoted at I34 to the panel Na inthe same manner as the operating lever 43a shown in Fig. 3. Alsoattached to the panel IIa is a switch member -I35 upon which are carriedelectrical switch contacts I36, the member I35 being connected to thecontacts I36 and one side of the motor I26. On the lower end of thelever 43a and insulated therefrom is knife switch blade I3'I which iselectrically connected to said motor I26. The switch comprising themembers I35, I36 and I3? is of the single pole double throw type. InFig. 1 the operating lever 43a is shown in full lines in its neutralposition, the dot-and-dash lines at the top indicates the position ofthe lever 43a when the window is in motion either up or down. When thelever 43a is pushed to the left-hand side the glass I3a. rises andwhen'pushed to the right-hand side the glass I 3a moves downwardly. Whenthe lever 43a is released from either the right-hand or the left-handposition the springs I38 which are anchored to the pins I39 in the panelI Ia returns the lever 43a to its neutral position. It will be apparentthat in either the right or left-hand position, the knife switch memberI31 will be engaged with the electrical circuit from the switch memberI35 but when in a neutral position the electrical circuit is open.

Attached to the glass channel member I2a is a bracket member I40. On theparallel portions of the bracket I40 are roller members MI and I42. Byan inspection of the lower end of the operating lever 43a, as shown inFig. 2, it will be noted that the lever is offset, the near portion 431)engaging with the roll I42. At the upper portion of the operating lever43a is a cam bracket I43.

Assuming that the lever 43a is pushed to the left-hand dot-and-dashposition and held there by the operator, the glass channel member I2awill rise until the roll I4I contacts the cam member I43 at which pointthe lever 43a will be pushed back into neutral position and theelectrical circuit opened. Assuming that the glass I3a is up and thelever is pushed to the righthand dot-and-dash position and held there,then when the roll I42 reaches the offset portion 4317, the lever 43awill be returned to neutral position and again the electrical circuitwill be opened. The glass I3a.may be stopped at any point by simplyreleasing the lever 43a, the springs I38 returning the lever 43a to itsneutral position.

The reversing of the segment 23a is entirely accomplished within themechanism I21 without even waiting for the motor rotor I25 to actuallystop. The operating lever 43a may be pushed from right to left or leftto right instantly even though the motor I26 is running continuously,and also the window glass'may be stopped instantly even though the motorI26 continues to operate because when the lever 43a is in neutralposition the pinion 29ais'de-energize'd and is free from drivingconnection with the shaft I38, as will be described further along in thedescription of the reversing mechanism I21. I Y The mechanism I21 iscomposed of two supporting side portions I28 andkl58 being spaced apartby means of end posts or studs III. The drive shaft I88 which isdirectly connected to the rotor I25 extends through both sides I28 andI58. On the inside faces of the sides I28 and I58, and set screwed tothe drive shaft I38, are gears I52 and I53. Freely iournalled on theshaft I58 on the side I28 is a reversing pinion gear I55.

Journalled in the sides I28 and I58 is the pinion shaft I3I, the backend of which is fixed to the pinion gear 29a which is directly engagedwith the gear teeth on the segment gear member 28a. At a point in theJournal of the side frame I28, the shaft I3I is recessed, as shown inFigs. 6, '1, 8, 10 and 12, the recess being indicated 'at I85 andcontinuing all the way along the shaft to the front end. The recess I58is curved on a radius equal to the radius of the shaft I3I.

Operating in the same recess I58 are key members I51 and I58. Thecentral opposed ends I51a and I58a have diameters equal to the diameterof the shaft I3I. The outer ends of the members I51 and I58 are cut downand curved having radial surfaces I59 and I58 corresponding to theradius of the shaft I3I. In Figs. 7 and 8, we have removed the gear I8Iwhich is normally engaged with the gear I 52. It will be noted that thegear I8I--is provided with an offsetrecess I52, shown in Fig. 6. Whenthe end I58 of the key member I58 is in a neutral position, as shown inFig. 6, the gear which is driven by the gear I52 is in an idlingposition and no movement of the shaft will take place as a result of theturning of gear II, but when the key I58 is swung to the right, as shownin Fig. 8, the shaft III becomes locked with the gear I 8| because theend into the recess I82.

assess? On the opposite end of the shaft I3I is another gear I83 whichis also provided with a recess I88 similar to the recess I82 in the gearI5I. In a similar manner, when the end of the key I51 is in a neutralposition the gear I83 idles around the key end and does not drive theshaft III. Separating the key members I51 and I58 are collars I85 andI85 both of which have recesses i884: and I85a both of which areidentical with the recess I82 in gear I8l. The round ends I51a and I58aare journalled'in the respective recesses I85a and I58a of the collarsI55 and I88 on their upper portions and in the shaft recess I 58 ontheir lower portions. In the outer faces of the collars I65 and I58 areprovided recesses I55b and I88b. The recesses are provided with radialside edges. On the upper portion of the key members I51 and I58 areprovided levers I51b and I58b respectively which are located in the saidrecesses I85b and I88b. The slots I55b and I88b are wider than the levermembers I511) and I58b so that the levers may be swung to the positionsshown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Engaging over the outer peripheries of the collars I85 and I88 and thehub portions of the gears I8I and I83 is the reversing collar I89. Thiscollar I89 can be slid endwise and is provided with recesses I18 and HI.The recesses at their innermost points are the same width as the leversI51b and I58b but adjacent their outer portion there are provided camsurfaces I12 and I18. By an inspection of Fig. 9, it will be noted 'gearI8I and shaft to the righthand side of the" collar I89 and'th'e leverI58b. When the'reversing collar is slid to;

the right, as viewed in 11, the leve'r,,as shown in Fig. 8, is rotatedto the position shown in Fig. '1. and the restricted portion of thecollar recess I1I ,holds it in place thereby allowing the gear IN toidle on the' shaft Hi. the collar I59, the recess I18 has moved awayfrom the lever I51b leaving by means of the spring I18, as shown in Fig.9. When the lever I5": is in the position shown in Fig. 9, the end I 59of the. key I51 is turned in the shaft recess I58 up into the recessedportion I58 of the gear I53 thereby causing the gear I53 toengage theshaft I3I. In a similar manner to that shown in Fig. 8, except that theposition of the parts are reversed, as viewed from Fig. 8.

A yoke member I18 is pivoted in the studs I 5| to the right of themechanism I21, the yoke portion having Dins I11 adapted to engage in theannular central groove in the reversing collar I59. on the top of themechanism I21 andslidably engaged in the slots- I18 are screws-I19screwed into the studs I5I The slide I33 is provided with a reversingslot having cam recesses I88 and I8I connected together by aneutral'passage I82. A pin I83 attached to the yoke mem-- ber I18engages in this reversing slot. 7

On the far inner side adjacent the member I28 are the gears I53, I83 andI55. The gear I55 engages both the gears I53 and I53 and acts as areversing gear between the gears I53 and I83. The gear I53 is fixed tothe shaft I38 and moves in one direction only.

Assuming that the shaft I38 is moving in a clock-wise direction and thekey member I 51 is in n shown in Fig. 6 with respect to the key I58. The

reversing slide I33 is back to the left with the yoke pin I83 located inthe cam portion I8I of the reversing slot. Under such conditions; the

pinion 29a also rotates to the right or in a clockwise direction,similar to shaft I 38.

.Assuming that the slide I33 is slid all of the way to the left and thepin I83 is now in the cam portion I88 of the reversing slot. In suchposition, the key I58 is now engaged with the gear I8I and the gear I 83and reverse gear I55 are idling. In this position, the gear I52 drivesthe I3I in a counter-clock-wise direction;

Assuming that the slide I33 is slid part-way back in either directionand the pin I83 is engaged in the neutral position I82 in the reversingslot of the slide. In such position both the levers I51b and I58b of thekeys I51 and I58 respectively are entered in the restricted recesses I18and HI of the reversing collar I89 the result of which is that both endsI59 and I 88 of key I51 and I58 are in their neutral position,corresponding to Fig. 6 with respect to theshaft I3I, therefore bothgears I 8| and I58 are idling and the shaft I3I does not turn eventhough the shaft I38 and gears I52 and I53 continue to rotate.

In operation, if it is desired to raise the glass I8a shown in Fig. 1,and assuming that the shaft I38 rotates in a clock-wise direction, theoperat- In this position, of

it tipped to the left .ing lever 43a is moved to the right. The slide,springI38 immediately returns the lever to its neutral position openingthe electrical circuit to the motor I26 thereby checking the glassmovement. When the lever 43a is in a neutral position and the reversingslide I33 is also in a neu tral position, and even though the motor I26continues to rotate in momentum, the segment gear 32a stops at once.Should the operator wish to instantly raise the glass a small amount, areversal of the lever starts the segment turning in a reverse directionalthough the motor rotor I25 is continuing to revolve.

As previously described, the lever 43a is returned to neutral positionat either extreme movement of the glass I3a, and in so doing, theelectrical circuit to the motor I26 is not only cut oil. but in additionthereto the reversing mechanism slot returns the yok I'IB freeing bothgears IGI and I63 from the shaft I3I which carries the pinion 29a whichengages the segment gear 23a.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new is:

1. In an electrically operated window for automobile doors and the likehaving a geared raising and lowering mechanism connected to said win-:dow by means of levers geared together, one of said levers being fixedto a segmental gear member pivoted in said door and engaged with apinion drive gear fixed to a shaft journalled in a reversing mechanismalso mounted in said door, said shaft being provided with idling gearsintermittently engaged with said pinion shaft by means of a slidingclutch which is operated by means of a sliding cam member engaged withsaid clutch, and an electrical motor and motor shaft journalled in saidreversing mechanism, the said motor being of a unidirectional type: themotor shaft connecting said idling gears on said pinion shaft by meansof a gear train, in combination with an operating lever pivoted in saiddoor, the upper end of said lever extending through the sill of saidwindow for the purpose of providing a hand hold for operating saidoperating lever, an extension lever pivoted to said operating lever at apoint above the pivot point of said operating lever in said door, theother end of said extension lever being attached to said' sliding cammember, an electrical switch located in said door and electricallyconnected with said motor, a portion of said switch comprising themoving contact members attached to the lower end of said operating leverfor the purpose of closing said switch when said operating lever ispivoted in either direction, neutralizing springs mounted in said doorand engaging said operating lever on each side for the purpose ofneutralizing the position of said operating lever when released by thehand of the operator thereby opening said switch and neutralizing thesaid clutch.

2. In an electrically operated window for automobile doors and the likehaving a geared raising and lowering mechanism connected to said windowby means of levers geared together, one of said levers being fixed to asegmental gear member pivoted in said door and engaged with a drivenalled in said reversing mechanism, the said mo-- tor being of aunidirectional type the motor shaft connecting said idling gears on saidpinion shaft by means of a gear train, in combination with an operatinglever pivoted in said door and having an extension portion extendedthrough the sill of said window for the purpose of providing a handlefor the operator, an extension lever pivoted to said operating lever andattached to said sliding cam member, an electrical switch attached tothe lower end of said operating lever and said door, neutralizingsprings mounted in said door and contacting said operating lever for thepurpose of neutralizing the position of said operating lever whenreleased by the operator's hand thereby opening said switch and movingsaid sliding cam member into a neutral position for the purpose ofplacing the said pinion gear shaft idling gears out of driving contactwith said pinion shaft.

3. In a sliding window having an electrical operator comprising a gearedsegment attached to pivoted levers slidably connected to said window anda reversing geared mechanism driven by means of an electrical motor, thegeared mechanism engaging the said geared segment having a drive shaftand reversing gears engageably located thereon and a clutch slidablymovable on the major axis of said drive shaft for the purpose ofengaging either of said reversing gears with said drive shaft andpermitting said reversing gears to idle on said drive shaft when saidclutch is in a neutral position, a sliding cam member controlling saidclutch, gears connecting said motor with said reversing gears incombination with, a combination operating lever, the operating leverbeing provided with moving electrical switch members on one end engagingwith permanent electrical switch members mounted in said door, the saidpermanent switch members being electrically connected with said motor,the said operating lever being pivoted in said door such that when thesaid lever is pivoted to one side or the other an electrical circuit isclosed between the said moving switch member and the said permanentswitch members switch and said motor, and when the said lever is in aneutral position the said switch is open, equalizing springs mounted insaid door and contacting said lever for the purpose of neutralizing theposition of .said lever, an extension lever attached to said sliding cammember on said reversing mechanism and pivoted at one end to the saidoperating lever at a point above the pivot point of said operating leverin said door, the neutral position of said operating lever correspondingto the neutral position of said sliding clutch.

DANIEL L. CHANDLER. GEORGE W. EWING. FRANK H. WALKER.

